Faith and James at Underwood Estate

When Mother Nature cooperates, there is something absolutely spectacular about an October wedding on Cape Cod. The sun is softer than in the summer months and takes on an ethereal golden hue, and it sets early enough to add a sense of romance to any afternoon wedding.

Mother Nature was in a very, very good mood on the first Saturday in October when Faith and James celebrated their love at the Underwood Estate in Chatham, MA. Formerly called the Mack House, the Underwood Estate is one of our favorite waterfront wedding venues on Cape Cod. The gorgeous property includes a spacious lawn for a tented wedding reception of up to 175 guests, a charming historic home, and a private dock and frontage on Mill Pond. It is Cape Cod destination wedding perfection, as was everything about Faith and James’s wedding day.

This looks like the start of something beautiful, doesn’t it?

Faith spent the morning and early afternoon hours relaxing with her maids, sipping Champagne as their hair and makeup were attended to. When every hair was perfectly in place, Faith slipped into her stunning sheath-style gown, picked up her beautiful bouquet and sat for a few relaxed photos, enjoying her final hour of being a “miss” while greatly looking forward to finally, after months and months of meticulous planning, being a “missus.”

Meanwhile, Faith’s very-soon-to-be husband was enjoying time with his buds, looking calm and collected as he checked his cufflinks and slipped into his too-cool shoes, sans socks, of course. So Cape Cod.

The moment had arrived. Faith and James were going to the chapel where they were going to get married.

Faith, along with her parents and maids, rode in style on a trolley to the Immaculate Conception Chapel in nearby Brewster, where the couple said their “I do’s” before nearly 150 of their loved ones.

With wedding rings firmly in place, it was time for the big kiss and a big party!

Back at the Underwood Estate, guests mingled on the sprawling waterfront lawn savoring signature cocktails, a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres, and raw bar brimming with local shellfish.

The late afternoon light was utterly perfect for photos and Faith and James and their photographers, Organic Photography, made the most of it, capturing spectacular image and after spectacular image. We seriously had trouble deciding which ones to share!

OMG, right? So romantic!

At 6:00, guests were invited into the tent where a wonderland of fall wedding perfection awaited. Round tables dressed in floor-length white linens were topped with tall floral arrangements in shades of peach and dusty pink.

At each place setting, an elegant menu card was placed atop a textural linen napkin. A sprig of thistle and polished seashell with each guest’s name completed the picture. So beautiful!

After speeches and a plated dinner, the bride and groom took to the dance floor for their first dance, after which Faith danced with her father and James with his mother.

And you know what happened next: party!